Daniel 9:18 “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”

Daniel got so many things right! We should never think that we’ve been “good enough” to approach God, because we haven’t. We can only approach God on the basis of who He is, not on the basis of who we are. Daniel was both personally righteous and genuinely humble. That’s why an answer was given as soon as he began to pray. (verse 23) So often we complain to God about all sorts of things, thinking we don’t deserve them. What we don’t deserve are all the blessings He pours out on us! It is only when we grasp how amazing God’s grace really is that we step into the full flow of it. These days many people are concerned about the entitlement mentality that seems to grip such a large part of the American population. What we don’t realize is that the same problem infects the Church. We sing, “Amazing Grace,” but don’t accept that we are really “wretches” apart from Christ. When we are in Christ by faith we are indeed children of God who partake in all that Christ is, but we tend to demand the “goodies” without understanding that it’s all grace, and not entitlement.

I’ve certainly had problems with this. I have cheapened God’s grace more times than I am even aware of, by presuming on it and by failing to practice the obedience that comes from gratitude. The longer I walk with the Lord the better I understand just how deep and wide and magnificent His grace is. As Daniel did, I’m learning to approach God not on the basis of what I have done but on the basis of who He is. As a pastor, this is something I earnestly desire to communicate to the flock, but they tend to be as slow to grasp it as I was! I need to remember my own track record and exercise toward them the patience that was shown to me.

Father, thank You indeed for Your amazing, overwhelming grace. Thank You for all that You did yesterday, especially in all the human interactions. Thank You for the many people who came to see the photo exhibit. Thank You especially for the opportunity to witness so strongly to the one person, as she overheard what was being said at the pastors meeting. Lord, there are so many people we care about and want to see in Your family, but we know that our love for them doesn’t approach Yours. May we be useful to You in drawing them to repentance and faith for their salvation, as You want to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!